West Michigan Daycares

Community Coordinated Child Care (4C)

What is 4C?

The Michigan 4C Association is a network of local/regional 4C agencies dedicated to improving services and child care for children and their families.

There are 15 regions, thus 15 members of the Michigan 4C Association network.

The staff at the Michigan 4C Association work to support the efforts of the local/regional 4C agencies as they work to improve services and child care. For more information on the Michigan 4C Association click here for the Annual Report or here for What's New?

The local/regional 4C agencies offer:

1. Referrals for child care and family services ---Information is provided to parents on child care resources using a computerized child care data base. The data includes information on the type of care, type of program, the hours of operation, the location, the ages of children served and the cost. The 4C child care referral counselors provide information to the parent on how to select a child care program and information on child care funds, scholarships and emergency loans funded by city and local governments. 4C offices also provide information on financial assistance, health care agencies, counseling services, and educational and recreational services for children. Click on your county to go directly to the local regional 4C office serving your area.

2. Training related to child care and child development --- The regional 4C offices offer child care provider training through the Michigan Child Care Futures Project, a public/private partnership managed by the Michigan 4C Association. The regional 4C offices develop additional training opportunities through local conferences and workshops. Contact your local 4C office for a calendar of training opportunities. Visit the EarlyOn Michigan web site for a list of conferences which may be of interest.

3. Community services coordination---Activities and services that promote high-quality child care and other services to young children are cooperatively planned with parents, child care providers, and other community groups to deliver needed services and to avoid duplication of efforts.

4. Consultation and technical assistance---Consultations and technical assistance relating to all aspects of child care are provided to parents, to individual child care providers and to boards of nonprofit child care centers. In addition, information is provided to employers and employees regarding options for employer-sponsored child care.

5. Advocacy---Information is provided to the public, professionals, and public policy makers on children's issues, such as early childhood education for high-risk children, child care financial assistance programs, and protection of vulnerable young children.

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(this page was copied from http://www.mi4c.org/whatis4c.htm and was produced by the Michigan 4C Association)